If your water heater is leaking, you need to get it fixed right away. If you don’t, it could cause severe water damage—or at least a home repair headache.
Culprits abound for a leaking water heater. Often, it’s best left to a professional plumber to figure out if you really need a new water heater or or just require a repair.
Let’s explore what might be going on. Here are the top reasons your water heater might be losing water.
Inside invaders
Things that build up inside your water heater—rust, mineral deposits, and sediment—can corrode the tank itself or the anode rod, the component that’s supposed to help limit corrosion. If just the anode rod is corroded, you may be able to replace it and get more life out of the tank. If the tank is leaking, little can be done other than replacing the unit.
Sometimes you can patch a crack caused by internal rust but it won’t last long. If you or your plumber suspects that the water tank is rusting from the inside, it’s time to investigate a replacement.
Minerals can build up inside water heaters that have a glass tank inside them. Calcium deposits, for instance, can make the heater less efficient and cause cracking. Once the tank is leaking, you’ll either need to replace the glass liner or the entire water heater.
If your tank is leaking at the bottom, it’s likely from significant sediment buildup. This situation is, unfortunately, only solved by replacing the whole water heater.
Loose or malfunctioning components
Loose valves or other connections could be causing your water heater to leak. But—good news!—they could also be repairable. Investigate each of them carefully and discuss options with your plumber—or DIY it if you’re handy.
Inlet and outlet connections keep water flowing into and out of your water heater—cold water in, hot water out. They may loosen up over time, causing leaks. Same with the drain valve, which is used to drain the water heater so it can be cleaned and inspected.
The temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve keeps your tank from overheating or from getting overpressurized. If this valve is leaking, you might be able to solve the problem by tightening the valve or replacing it.
Things you can check before calling in the pros
Is the water actually coming from your water heater? Just because the floor is wet beneath your water heater doesn’t mean the tank is the source. Lots of other water sources typically converge around the water heater. Check other plumbing in the vicinity, such as a furnace drain line or a nearby clothes washer. Consider whether it’s dampness caused by condensation.
Loose connections. Revisit the various connections and valves we discussed above. Are all the components snugly attached to the water heater? Do you see water seeping from any of the connections? If you find a loose connection, you can try to tighten it yourself with a wrench. (Note: if water is escaping from a copper connection you’ll need a plumber: copper connections are soldered.)
Check your pressure-reducing valve, if you have one. Some systems have a special valve to help reduce high water pressure. Be sure it’s at the correct setting. Our professionals recommend between 50 and 60 psi.
Detect leaks before they’re a big problem
You help make sure a big leak doesn’t happen again, consider installing a leak detector. This small device sits on the floor next to your water heater and sounds an alarm if it detects a leak. Some detectors also connect to your phone, sending you an alert even when you’re away from home.
Stay safe
Call in a plumber if you’re not a handy type person, if you’re hesitant about being able to fix it yourself, or inexperienced with gas or electrical equipment. Ditto for a problem whose cause you can’t locate.
And, of course, if you suspect the tank is leaking, the water heater is 10 or more years old, or if you simply want a newer, more efficient model, bring in a professional.
Sources
Why Is My Water Heater Leaking? 7 Common Reasons, nerdwallet.com, Roberta Pescow, July 10, 2024
How To Diagnose and Repair a Leaking Water Heater, thisoldhouse.com, Richard Trethewey, September 25, 2024
Solved! How to Fix a Leaking Water Heater and Prevent Future Woes, bobvila.com, Glenda Taylor and Bob Vila, September 23, 2020
Why is My Water Heater Leaking?, waterheaterleakinginfo.com